Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris 1830 - 1890

This is Eugène Cicéri’s "Design for a Stage Set at the Opéra, Paris", made with graphite and gray wash on irregular paper. The drawing presents a study in architectural forms and spatial arrangements. It appears to be an informal but precise vision for the stage. The composition employs a somewhat erratic application of graphite to depict a partial architectural structure, seemingly of classical inspiration. The texture of the paper itself, with its irregular edges, enhances the drawing's unfinished, exploratory nature. The linear quality is dominant, emphasizing the structure and its suggested depth, with hatching to model form. Cicéri has created a semiotic dance between architectural stability and scenic illusion. This tension suggests the performative nature of architecture itself. The design prompts questions about the interplay between reality and representation, function and spectacle. The raw edges of the paper challenge our conventional understanding of how space and structure are perceived.